Dr. R. Scott Blankenburg
HAMILTON — Dr. R. Scott Blankenburg’s last days of freedom before serving 13 years in prison are being spent dissolving the once-thriving pediatrics practice he shared with his twin brother, Mark, who is already behind bars.
Last week, Scott Blankenburg, who practiced on Nilles Road in Fairfield, pleaded guilty to compelling prostitution, two counts of bribery, pandering sexually-oriented material involving a minor, illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and complicity to deception to obtain a dangerous drug. One of the charges involved a former patient.
Scott Blankenburg was sentenced by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Noah Powers to prison, but was given a stay until Feb. 15 to allow him to close up his practice and Mark’s, which once operated on F Street in Hamilton.
Earlier this month, Mark Blankenburg was sentenced to 21 to 27 years in prison for molesting three former patients, and for other charges stemming from money and drugs he gave the victims for years to keep quiet. He was found guilty in October after a jury trial.
Scott Blankenburg declined requests for an interview; he does not want to say anything that might affect his brother’s appeal.
“Just thank everyone for their support over the years,” Scott said Thursday afternoon.
Jack Garretson, Scott’s defense attorney, estimated the practice shared by the 54-year-old identical twins once had as many as 6,000 patients. In the past year, when both were indicted, that practice has not been fully functional, the attorney said.
“We have passed out hundreds of files to patients in the last year,” Garretson said. But he noted Scott Blankenburg still has about 2,000 patient files from each practice.
The attorney said he is currently in negotiations with an area medical practice to take over stewardship of patients who do not seek out another doctor on their own.
Garretson said the Blankenburgs have been vilified but “the truth is both were good doctors.”
“They did some very wrong things, but they really care about these patients,” Garretson said.
Scott Blankenburg remains on house arrest and is wearing an electronic monitor, but is permitted to work in the office from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday until Feb.. 11, to assure all medical records are distributed.
There is someone with Blankenburg in the office during those hours, Garretson said.
Patients can call (513)-829-0800 for more information.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.
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